[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4188-4190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1774]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-212-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -15, 
-30, -30F, and -40 Series Airplanes, and KC-10A (Military) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model 
DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F, and -40 series airplanes, and KC-10A 
(military) airplanes. This proposal would require a one-time general 
visual inspection of circuit breakers to determine the manufacturer of 
the circuit breakers, and corrective action, if necessary. This 
proposal is prompted by incidents of smoke and electrical odor in the 
flight compartment and cabin area as a result of failure of circuit 
breakers. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent internal overheating and arcing of circuit breakers and 
airplane wiring due to long-term use and breakdown of internal 
components of the circuit breakers, which could result in smoke and 
fire in the flight compartment and main cabin.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-212-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group, Long Beach Division, 
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: 
Technical Publications Business Administration, Dept. C1-L51 (2-60). 
This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natalie Phan-Tran, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5343; 
fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 99-NM-212-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 99-NM-212-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Supplementary Information

    As part of its practice of re-examining all aspects of the service 
experience of a particular aircraft whenever an accident occurs, the 
FAA has become aware of incidents of smoke and electrical odor in the 
flight compartment and cabin area of McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9 
series airplanes. Investigation revealed that long-term use and break 
down of the internal components of the circuit breakers, manufactured 
by Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division of Potter 
Brumfield Corporation, contributed to internal overheating and arcing 
of the circuit breakers. This condition, if not corrected, could result 
in smoke and fire in the flight compartment and main cabin.
    The subject circuit breakers on certain Model DC-10 series 
airplanes are similar to those on the affected McDonnell Douglas Model 
DC-9 series airplanes. Therefore, both of these models may be subject 
to this same unsafe condition.

Other Related Rulemaking

    The FAA is considering further rulemaking for certain McDonnell 
Douglas Model DC-9 series airplanes to address the identified unsafe 
condition.
    The FAA, in conjunction with Boeing and operators of Model DC-10 
series

[[Page 4189]]

airplanes, is continuing to review all aspects of the service history 
of those airplanes to identify potential unsafe conditions and to take 
appropriate corrective actions. This proposed airworthiness directive 
(AD) is one of a series of actions identified during that process. The 
process is continuing and the FAA may consider additional rulemaking 
actions as further results of the review become available.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved McDonnell Douglas Alert Service 
Bulletin DC10-24A161, dated October 29, 1999. The service bulletin 
describes procedures for a one-time general visual inspection of 
circuit breakers to determine the manufacturer of the circuit breakers, 
and replacement of any circuit breaker manufactured by Wood Electric 
Corporation or Wood Electric Division of Potter Brumfield Corporation 
with a new circuit breaker. Accomplishment of the actions specified in 
the service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified 
unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, this 
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in 
the service bulletin described previously, except as discussed below.

Differences Between Proposed AD and Service Bulletin

    Operators should note that the proposed AD would require 
replacement of any circuit breaker manufactured by Wood Electric 
Corporation or Wood Electric Division of Potter Brumfield Corporation 
with a new circuit breaker within 18 months after the effective date of 
this AD. The service bulletin recommends that the replacement should be 
accomplished within 12 months from the issuance of the service 
bulletin. In developing an appropriate compliance time for this 
proposed action, the FAA considered not only the degree of urgency 
associated with addressing the subject unsafe condition, but the 
availability of required parts. The FAA has determined that 18 months 
represents an appropriate interval of time allowable wherein an ample 
number of required parts will be available for modification of the U.S. 
fleet within the proposed compliance period. The FAA also finds that 
such a compliance time will not adversely affect the safety of the 
affected airplanes.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 412 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 300 airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this proposed AD, it would take approximately 80 
work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection of the 
circuit breakers (over 700 installed on each airplane), and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$1,440,000, or $4,800 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, 
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under 
the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:


    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

McDonnell Douglas: Docket 99-NM-212-AD.

    Applicability: Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F, and -40 series 
airplanes, and KC-10A (military) airplanes, as listed in McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC10-24A161, dated October 29, 1999; 
certificated in any category.


    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent internal overheating and arcing of circuit breakers 
and airplane wiring due to long-term use and breakdown of internal 
components of the circuit breakers, which could result in smoke and 
fire in the flight compartment and main cabin, accomplish the 
following:

Inspection and Replacement, If Necessary

    (a) Within 18 months after effective date of this AD: Perform a 
one-time general visual inspection of circuit breakers to determine 
the manufacturer of the circuit breaker in accordance with McDonnell 
Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC10-24A161, dated October 29, 1999.


    Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is defined as: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior 
area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, 
or irregularity. This level of inspection is made under normally 
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, 
flashlight, or drop-light, and may require removal or opening of 
access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be 
required to gain proximity to the area being checked.''

    (1) If no Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division of 
Potter Brumfield Corporation circuit breaker is found, no further 
action is required by this paragraph.
    (2) If any Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division 
of Potter Brumfield Corporation circuit breaker is found, prior to

[[Page 4190]]

further flight, replace the circuit breaker with a new circuit 
breaker in accordance with the service bulletin.

Spares

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall 
install, on any airplane, a circuit breaker, part number 104-205-
104, 104-210-104, 104-215-104, 104-220-104, 104-225-104, 104-230-
104, 104-235-104, 104-250-104, 447-205-102, 448-205-102, 505-205-
102, 506-205-102, 447-507-102, 448-507-102, 505-507-102, 506-507-
102, 447-210-102, 448-210-102, 505-210-102, 506-210-102, 447-215-
102, 448-215-102, 505-215-102, 506-215-102, 447-220-102, 448-220-
102, 505-220-102, 506-220-102, 447-225-102, 448-225-102, 505-225-
102, 506-225-102, 448-235-102, 505-235-102, 506-235-102.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall 
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Los Angeles ACO.


    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

Special Flight Permits

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 20, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-1774 Filed 1-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U